2 accused of shoplifting from JCPenney

Published: Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 5:21 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 5:21 p.m.

Two young men were arrested Saturday night for shoplifting over $100 worth of merchandise from JCPenney in The Oaks Mall.

According to police, Jarvis Middleton, 20, and Shaquille Walker, 19, were seen concealing $128 worth of merchandise by a JCPenney loss prevention associate around 9 p.m. The employee told police that he saw Middleton, of 3721 SE 18th Ave., and Walker, of 3827 NE 13th St., leave the store without paying for the merchandise.

The employee approached the suspects and attempted to detain them for retail theft. Both Middleton and Walker resisted, police said.

While attempting to detain Walker, the employee dropped his cell phone, according to police.

Middleton then grabbed the phone, which was worth over $500, and ran into the mall, police said.

The employee chased Middleton, caught up to him in the mall and told Middleton that he needed to come with him. Middleton refused and walked out of the mall, where he was intercepted by mall security, police said. Middleton again denied having the phone, but eventually pulled the phone out of his pocket and gave it back to the JCPenney employee, police said.

Both Middleton and Walker will face charges of petit theft and resisting merchant detainment.

<p>Two young men were arrested Saturday night for shoplifting over $100 worth of merchandise from JCPenney in The Oaks Mall.</p><p>According to police, Jarvis Middleton, 20, and Shaquille Walker, 19, were seen concealing $128 worth of merchandise by a JCPenney loss prevention associate around 9 p.m. The employee told police that he saw Middleton, of 3721 SE 18th Ave., and Walker, of 3827 NE 13th St., leave the store without paying for the merchandise.</p><p>The employee approached the suspects and attempted to detain them for retail theft. Both Middleton and Walker resisted, police said.</p><p>While attempting to detain Walker, the employee dropped his cell phone, according to police.</p><p>Middleton then grabbed the phone, which was worth over $500, and ran into the mall, police said.</p><p>The employee chased Middleton, caught up to him in the mall and told Middleton that he needed to come with him. Middleton refused and walked out of the mall, where he was intercepted by mall security, police said. Middleton again denied having the phone, but eventually pulled the phone out of his pocket and gave it back to the JCPenney employee, police said.</p><p>Both Middleton and Walker will face charges of petit theft and resisting merchant detainment.</p>